On July 9, 2024, members of the Kerala Student Union (KSU) staged a protest march to the Kerala Assembly, highlighting the acute shortage of Class 11 seats in the Malabar region of Kerala. The Thiruvananthapuram Police, in response, set up barricades and deployed water cannons to disperse the protesters. However, as the students remained steadfast, the police resorted to a lathi charge, chasing the protestors as they scattered. Several students sustained injuries, including KSU President Aloshious Xavier, who had to be rushed to the hospital in a police vehicle.

The incident has drawn widespread media attention, raising concerns about the excessive use of force by law enforcement. The protesters were advocating for a crucial educational issue, and the police response has been viewed as an act of reprisal against student activism.

The incident calls for urgent intervention. Citing Section 12(a) of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, there is a strong appeal for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take suo moto cognizance of the event and initiate an independent inquiry through its investigative wing.